The Travel Retail Consortium (TRC) took over the historic Wood Norton hotel near Evesham, Worcestershire, UK, for its bi-annual retailer weekend. This beautiful listed building, originally a hunting lodge in 1872 and home to the BBC from 1939-2000, exclusively hosted members of the Travel Retail Consortium plus guests and partners for a strictly social weekend in April, enabling suppliers to mix with airport retailers, airlines, ferries/cruise-ships, and distributors/agents within a relaxed networking opportunity.
The weekend kicked off on Friday with afternoon cream teas followed by an evening buffet in the Bredon Room, overlooking the wonderful grounds and views to the Mendip Hills. On Saturday guests were divided into teams for a ‘Chocolate Easter Egg Challenge’. Faced with Easter Eggs, chocolate blocks and all manner of added ingredients from sugar strands to ground ginger to hazelnuts, the race was on to make a selection of chocolates - and then create the baskets to put them in! Great fun and a huge amount of mess later, the winning team was voted as: Kiran Norman from Twinings, Tim Sargent from World Duty Free, Michelle Ellis from Harding Retail and Nicola Emblin from Condor Ferries.
After an afternoon at leisure, all put on their glad-rags for a ‘Swing into Spring’ Black Tie Gala Dinner, where all enjoyed a superb dinner and dancing. As is tradition, bacon rolls were served to all surviving guests at 1am.
During lunch on Saturday a raffle in aid of The Beacon Centre in Guildford - with prizes kindly donated by suppliers - raised £1500.
Customers attending the event included World Duty Free Group, Jet2.com, Easyjet, Brittany Ferries, P&O Ferries, Harding Retail, Tourvest, British Airways. Ambassadors Choice, Macintyre Scott Xtra, Gate Retail Onboard, Condor, and Cavendish.
Says Sarah Branquinho, WDFG Business Relations & External Affairs Director: “Once again the Travel Retail Consortium members provided a unique opportunity to meet people from virtually every travel retail business in the UK in an environment which encourages many of those conversations which you don’t have time for during the normal working week.”
Says Claire Evans. Gate Retail Onboard Retail Director: “Thank you so much for inviting me to the recent TRC weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found a perfect mix on the itinerary, met some great new people and caught up with old friends too. The TRC team were great hosts and had thought of every need, please pass on my sincere thanks, it was a most enjoyable weekend. It may have been my first TRC event but I know it won't be my last.”
Says Nicola Tompkins, P&O Ferries: “Thank you to Richard and the TRC team for arranging the recent weekend event. It was a fantastic opportunity to spend time with some of our key suppliers and competitors in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. The Wood Norton was a fantastic venue and the TRC wonderful hosts.”
“The weekend was a great success for both supplier members and our guests from the industry,” says Richard Thorpe, TRC Chairman. “The TRC Event is a unique occasion where suppliers and retailers (along with their partners) can enjoy quality time together in a very informal and relaxed environment. It was great to catch up with old friends and to be introduced to new buyers from our vibrant industry.
We have received very positive feedback from many of our guests and I am confident that everyone who attended the event, went away with very fond memories and new business contacts.”
Notes to editors: The Travel Retail Consortium was originally conceived in the late 1960s and formalised in 1971 to further the interests and development of the Travel Retail industry within the UK through the member companies.
The organisation's objectives are to improve standards of business within the travel retail industry; promote members’ products and services; discuss industry issues; and provide social and business networking opportunities for key industry customers and members' representatives at annual events. The TRC is also active in raising funds for charity and the Chairman nominates a new charity each year.
For membership enquiries please contact Richard Thorpe at rthorpecatdesign@aol.com
TRC members are: Accolade Wines, Aurora World Ltd, Coty Prestige, Guinness, Heineken, Imperial Tobacco International, JA Associates, Mars, Rémy Cointreau, RT Travel Retail, Sekonda, Taittinger Champagne & Twinings.
*Picture 1 – Guests enjoying crocket.
*Picture 2 – Travel Retail Consortium members.
*Picture 3 – TRC Chairman, Richard Thorpe, addressing everyone at the main dinner.
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